Southern California -- this just in

Bomb squad called to possible indoor marijuana farm in Van Nuys

August 21, 2012 | 7:51
am

The Los Angeles Police Department sent its bomb squad Wednesday to an industrial building in Van Nuys that may be serving as an indoor marijuana farm, authorities said.

Police responded around 5:15 a.m. to a building in the 15800 block of Stagg Street, just west of the 405 Freeway, after receiving a call from someone reporting an open door at the building, a sign of a possible burglary.

When they got there, officers detected “the strong odor of what they believe is possibly marijuana,” said LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman.

“They believe it’s a grow house,” she said.

The building appeared to have been rigged with trip-wires, prompting fears it might have booby traps or some type of surveillance system on the premises. As a precaution, officers contacted the bomb squad, which cleared out nearby buildings before inspecting the warehouse, Eisenman said.

Photo: Police stage in the 15800 block of Stagg Street in Van Nuys as the bomb squad checks an industrial building that may be serving as an indoor marijuana farm. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times